Word and alphabet game device



Feb. 19, 1963 1.. H. MORIN 3,077,651

TOP STOP FOR ONE-SIDED SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed June 27, 1961 INVENTOR. Lou/5 h. MoR/N HTTORNEY 3,077,677 Patented Feb. 19, 1963.

United States Patent Office Filed Feb. 28, 1961, Ser. Na. 92,350 2 Claims. (CI. 35-35 This invention concerns an educational word and alphabet game.

According to the invention there is provided a folder Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 a game book 20 including two rectangular boards 22 and 24 hinged together by a flexible strip 26 along one edge. In each of the boards are formed a plurality of round, shallow recesses 30 arranged in rows and columns. In these recesses are disposed a plurality of round playing pieces 32 in the form of disks. Each disk is marked or game book consisting of two boards hinged together along one edge. Each board is provided with a plurality of shallow circular recesses in which may be disposed playing pieces in the form of circular disks. The thickness of each disk is at least twice the depth of each recess. Each of the disks carries a letter or number on one or both sides. The folder is provided with a clasp and handles for convenience in carrying. When the folder is closed the playing pieces are held securely therein. When the folder is open in playing position, the player can arrange the pieces to form words, perform additions and swbtractions with the pieces marked with numbers. In one form of the invention the disks are provided with pegs for orienting the pieces in desired positions on the boards and for use in lifting the pieces out of the recesses.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an educational word and alphabet game in the form of a folder simulating a book, the folder including hinged boards formed with recesses to receive numbered and lettered playing pieces.

It is another object to provide playing pieces of an alphabet game consisting of disks marked on one or both sides with letters and numbers.

It is another object to provide playing pieces of an alphabet game with pegs having studs for orienting the pieces in desired positions in recesses in a playing board.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game in open playing position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the game.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on lines 3-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a playing piece used in the game.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container of extra playing pieces.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of another folder or game book which may be used in playing the game.

FIG. 8 is an edgewise view of a playing piece used in the game book of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the playing piece of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of another playing piece according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is an edgewise view of the piece of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of another game folder adapted to be used with the pieces of FIGS. 10 and .11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a view as seen from the line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

onopposite sides with letters or numbers 34, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The boards are preferably provided with thirty-six recesses in each. There will-.then be twenty-six pieces marked with the several letters of the alphabet from A to Z and ten pieces eachmarked with a different numeral from 0 to 9. 7

At the free edge of board 22 are two clasps. 36 and a hinged handle 38. At the free edge of board 24 are two catches 40 and another hinged handle 39. In FIG. 2

" the folder is shown in closed carrying position. In this position the pieces 32 nest in cylindrical chambers formed by opposing recesses 30 in the boards so that the folder serves as both a carrying container and playing board; see FIG. 3.

To play with the game, it is opened to the position of FIG. 1. Then all the pieces are arranged in alphabetical and numerical order on one board, for example, the right board 22. Then the player can select pieces from board 22 to form a crossword array P on board 24 as shown in the drawing.

FIG. 6 shows a box 42 of extra or spare pieces 32 which may be supplied with the game for extending the scope of play to form different words, sentences, etc.

FIG. 7 shows another game arrangement 20 including two wooden boards 22 and 24 having recesses 30 arranged like recesses 30 in the boards of game book 20. The boards 22 24 are secured together by a hinge 44. The outer edge of one board carries a hook 46 which can be engaged in a screw eye 48 carried on the edge 47 of the other board. A handle 45 is attached to the edge 47 for convenience in carrying the game board 20 in closed position. The recesses 30 receive pieces 32 which have raised letters and numerals 34 thereon as clearly shown in FIGS. 7-9. This game arrangement can be played with in the same manner as game 20.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another game arrangement 20 in which the recesses 30 in board 24 are for-med with radiating spoke-shaped grooves or slots 35. These grooves 35 serve as keyways to receive the ends of a stud 37 disposed in a peg 41 on each piece 32. The pieces 32 are shown to best advantage in FIGS. 10 and 11. The pegs 41 may serve as handles which may be grasped in removing the pieces from board 22 The recesses 350 in board 2'2 do not have the grooves 35 but they may be provided in these recesses if desired. FIG. 12 shows how the studs on the pegs permit the pieces 32" to be disposed in various angular positions with respect to the edges of the boards. Thus, it is possible to form diagonally arranged words with pieces which will retain their positions because of the engagement of the stud in the opposite ends of the studs in the opposing portions of the grooves.

When game book 20 is closed the pieces 32 nest in cylindrical chambers formed by opposing recesses 30', 30".

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A game book comprising a pair of rectangular boards, each of said boards having a plurality of shallow recesses arranged in rows and columns, hinge means securing the boards pivotally together at one edge thereof, the'recesses in the boards beingvin opposing relationship when the boards are in closed abutting position, to form cylindrical chambers, and a plurality of game pieces removably disposed in said chambers when the boards are closed, the thickness of each piece being twice the depth of each recess, each of said pieces having a letter'or numher on at least one sidethereof, each of said pieces being provided with a peg, a stud extending diametrally through the. peg, each of the recesses in one of the boards being provided with grooves having radiating portions adapted to receive the pegs and studs and hold the pieces in predetermined angular positions With respect to edges of the boards.

2. A game book comprising a pair of rectangular boards, each of said boards having a plurality of shallow recesses arranged in rows and columns, hinge means securing the boards pivotally together at one edgethereof, the recesses in the boards being in opposing relationship when the boards are in closed abutting position, to form cylindrical chambers, and a plurality of game pieces removably disposed in said chambers when the boards are References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,329 Crandall Apr. 3, 1883 1,595,285 Bevan Aug. 10, 1926 1,682,686 Rutherford Aug. 28, 1928 1,728,805 Rivkin Sept. 17, 1929 2,462,502 Horwitz Feb. 22, 1949 2,489,779 Horton et al. Nov; 29,, 1949 2,584,601 Mauser Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 593,366 Great Britain Oct. 15, 1947' 

2. A GAME BOOK COMPRISING A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR BOARDS, EACH OF SAID BOARDS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SHALLOW RECESSES ARRANGED IN ROWS AND COLUMNS, HINGE MEANS SECURING THE BOARDS PIVOTALLY TOGETHER AT ONE EDGE THEREOF, THE RECESSES IN THE BOARDS BEING IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP WHEN THE BOARDS ARE IN CLOSED ABUTTING POSITION, TO FORM CYLINDRICAL CHAMBERS, AND A PLURALITY OF GAME PIECES REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBERS WHEN THE BOARDS ARE CLOSED, THE THICKNESS OF EACH PIECE BEING TWICE THE DEPTH OF EACH RECESS, EACH OF SAID PIECES HAVING A LETTER OR NUMBER ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID PIECES BEING PROVIDED WITH A PEG, A STUD EXTENDING DIAMETRALLY THROUGH THE PEG, AND MEANS IN THE RECESSES ARRANGED FOR COOPERATION WITH THE PEGS AND STUDS TO HOLD THE PIECES IN PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION WITH RESPECT TO EDGES OF THE BOARDS. 